Infrastructure projects move forward

District focuses on stormwater improvements, ditch cleaning

Lorain County approved contracts that will improve stormwater infrastructure while continuing to evaluate projects in the works.

The Lorain County Stormwater Management District said in a news release the actions will result in more than 40,000 linear feet of ditch cleaning alongside a traditional community grant program.

The board approved a contract with the design and engineering team of KE McCartney and Associates and Davey Resources Group to make several improvements in Phelom Ditch and Dickson Ditch that will improve 17,000 feet of ditch beginning at the Cuyahoga County line through North Ridgeville.

The agreement will also improve 25,000 additional linear feet of Bannister Ditch extending from the end of the previous project near the Willow Creek Subdivision in Eaton Township to the Willow Creek watershed.

The project also will develop a 60-acre property for stormwater detention and ecological restoration in Eaton Township

The Willow Creek watershed contains several large drainage ways, including Fortune, Phelom, Bannister, and Carpenter ditches with many other minor ditches. These waterways drain a significant portion of Eaton Township as well as portions of Grafton and Columbia townships and North Ridgeville, the release said.

The Willow Creek watershed area will also be reviewed for additional projects that were previously identified by a state-funded study of the watershed for restoration projects, led by the Lorain County Health District through the Black

River AOC Advisory Committee, formerly known as the Black River RAP.

The Stormwater Management District is aiming for these areas to be able to hold more water during storms and to improve the flow in the Phelom and Carpenter ditches.

The wetland/floodplain complex and plant communities will remove nitrogen, phosphorous, and heavy metals such as mercury from the water.

Additional work was authorized including the removal of 10 log jams by D&M Earthmoving on the Bannister Ditch and the approval of the 2022 Storm Water District Budget, which maintained funding for the Community Grant Program at $400,000, increased log jam removal funding to $45,000, and programmed $25,000 to mini-grants and $20,000 for planning grants to townships, according to the release.

The board approved a Community Grant to Grafton Township and will increase the $30,000 being provided with storm water funding in order to improve Erhart Ditch, matched with local funds and in-kind from the township.

The board reviewed 22 stormwater projects, some of which are now underway.

The Storm Water District noted projects are in various stages from identification through design completed, and are to be developed and looked at as part of a long-term capital improvement plan, which may be funded from storm water funds, existing infrastructure fund awards and potential new federal dollars that may be approved later this year.

Applications granted

Separately, on Sept. 1 the Lorain County Commissioners approved several grant applications to send to the Ohio Public Works Commission that could provide a boost to local infrastructure.

Lorain County submitted a grant application for the resurfacing of Elyria Avenue, seeking $216,919 to go along with $503,731 already committed by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency.

Additional projects on the table include the resurfacing of North Ridge Road between Baumhart Road and Quarry Road with the county requesting $244,200 with an estimated local share of $85,800; the replacement of the PeckWadsworth Road Bridge #0668 in Wellington with a request of $281,607 with an estimated local share of $98,943; the replacement of the Pitts Road Culvert #0466 with a funding request of $179,820 and a total estimated project cost of $243,000.